Rama Krishna Sangem
Former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, IAS (Retired), has been appointed as Chief Advisor to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) for a period of three years. Order (GO 676) has been issued to this effect on May 9, Tuesday by Telangana Chief Secretary Santi Kumari, IAS. Somesh will enjoy the rank of a Cabinet Minister in his post, said the order. He was an 1989 Batch IAS officer.
Somesh Kumar served as Telangana Chief Secretary for three years till January 10, 2023. Then he was shifted by a High Court order to Andhra Pradesh cadre. He wasn’t given any posting in Andhra, till he opted for voluntary retirement a few weeks ago. Somesh Kumar accompanied KCR for BRS public meeting in Aurangabad in Maharashtra recently, where the CM introduced him to people, saying: “He worked hard with us, in improving land records system”.
Somesh Kumar’s name figured as a probable for the post of head of RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority), for which a selection committee is soon to take a call. Now that CM KCR has appointed him as Chief Advisor, his services will be used for tackling various administrative issues – right from sorting out of Dharani Portal‘s glitches to improving government revenues to presenting cultivation certificates to Podu lands to tribals.
Somesh earlier worked as GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) special officer and Principal secretary revenue. As secretary of revenue, he played a role in switching from VAT to GST which came into being six years ago. From automating commercial taxes department to training its staff, Somesh played a role. Even during Covid pandemic, he conducted many field visits to monitor the situation.
After his appointment on Tuesday, Somesh Kumar called on CM KCR and thanked for giving him an opportunity as Chief Advisor.
